252 . THE WORLD'S MEAT FUTURE 



"The practice of dehorning cattle, by sawing off or otherwise 

 entirely removing the horns after they are partly or fully grown, 

 appears to inflict great pain upon the animals, and may even be 

 the cause of death. A method of preventing the growth of 

 the horns is by the application of caustic potash to the horn buds 

 of young calves. If performed in the manner set out below, and 

 \vith proper regard to the precautions which follow, the opera- 

 tion is comparatively painless, and can be done quickly and Avith 

 ease : — 



"Clip the hair from the top of the horn when the calf is from 

 two to five days old. Slightly moisten the end of a stick of 

 caustic potash with water ( or moisten the top of the horn bud ) , 

 and rub the tip of each horn firmly with the potash for about a 

 quarter of a minute, or until a slight impression has been made 

 on the centre of the horn. The horn should be treated in this 

 way from two to four times at intervals of five minutes. 



"Tf, during the interval of five minutes after one or more 

 applications a little blood appears in the centre of the horn, it 

 will then only be necessary to give another very slight rubbing 

 Avith the potash. 



"The folloA\dng directions should be carefully observed: — 



"1. The operation is best performed when the calf is under 

 five days old, and should not be attempted after the ninth day. 



"2. Caustic potash can be obtained from any chemist in the 

 form of a white stick. "When not in use, it should be kept in 

 a stoppered glass bottle in a dry place, as it rapidly deteriorates 

 when exposed to the air. 



"3. One man should liold the calf while an assistant uses 

 the caustic. 



"4. A piece of tinfoil or brown paper should be rolled round 

 the end of the stick of caustic potash which is licld by the 

 fingers, so as not to injure the hand of the operator. 



"5. The stick should not be moistened too much, or the caustic 

 may spread to the skin around the horn, and destroy the flesh. 

 For the same reason, the calf should be kept from getting wet 

 for some days after the operation. 



"6. Care should be taken to rub on the centre of the horn, 

 and not round the side of it." (Weddel & Co., Ltd., to The 

 Transvaal Landowners' Association.) 



